New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-07

LET THE TOLICE BO1RD OBEY TIE Law
The courts arc intended to secure the en-
f5rccment of the law. The leaders OF Irving
Hall and of the Progressive Labor party arc
cndeayori,g to use them to defeat the plain
meaning of the law with regard to additional
election inspectors In this they have the
efficient and powerful aid of the Democratic
Commissioners in the Police Board. From the
high character of the judges of the supreme
Court bench and from the prcccdcntS when
they have established III analogous cases 1Or-
merry passed upon by them, We arc satisfied
that such efforts to jugge with the plain intent
of the law for political purposes will not only
receive no countcnance from them, but Will
meet with a meritcd rcbukc at their hands.
There is no longer even the prctcnce OF a
DISPUTE as to the right of the United LABOR
party to their S12 inspectors. 1t was on'y DE
some technically that that right could be lost
The Democratic Commissioners refused to unite
with their Republican associates in Obcylng
the law and confirming the inspectors legally
appointed under the statute by Commissioner
McClayc. They remained mute until tenn
porary injunction could be obtained restrain
ing their action, and now seek to bolster up
their refusal to act under the imSy pfctcNt
that as the injunction was not dissolved unlll
after September 30 it is too late to make the
confirmation. These Commissioners and the
other Democratic leaders care nothing Tor the
Irving Hall or Progressive appointments except
as they NAV use them to defeat the United
Labor party. They would be best satisfied
to have no new inspectors appointed; ana II
it were a question either of Irving Hall or the
Socialists alone. without regard to the George
pa,tv who believes that either MIR. NoorhlS OF
General Porter would be found advocating the
ridiculous claims of these 'parics'?
The alternative writ of mandamuS to compel
the Board of Police to do its duty in the con-
Grmation Of the George inspectors viii cUme
before the General Term of the Supreme Court
this morning 1t doubtless VIII be treated by
the court in the same spirit with which SIM
lar application by Tammany Hall was disposed
Of by the General Term in 1879. The court
declared it a proceeding Of the highest priv
lego against which 10 delay or technically
should be intcrposcd. 1t sat upon the hearing
from day TO day and from hour TO hour. per-
hitting no adjournment except the bhcl re-
ccSscs during which the court said 1t would
wait to see whether the Police Board would
not do as ii was legally commanded. Alter
the completion Of the argument the court look
short adjournment; then convened ana
promptly rendered its decision requiring the
appointment Of the Tammany Hall inspectors
The same course should be followed III tins
instance Every one knows that living Iial
as a distinct OrganizatiOn' or party ana not
cast 10000 votes last year; every one knows
that the Socialists did not while ii Is equally
matter Of common knowledge that the candi'
date of what is now called the United Labor
party, upon the same platform or party De
lief' to which its sig inspectors subscribe dd
last year poll much more than 10000 votes
There is the whole matter in a nutshell. There
is no difficult question either OF law or iact
The Democratic Commissioners well kho"
that the George inspectors and they aiohc
arc entitled TO the new appointments. Ana II
they will not vote with their Republican Assoc
ciates to confirm the appointments already
legally made the court should act rs II ana
in the case Of Tammany Hall in 1873 and
without permitting delay, compel them by
mandamus to do their duty.